Marvel’s Guardians rockets to S$117m domestic debut, setting August record

A cinema still from Guardians Of The Galaxy, which made US$94 million (S$117 million) in ticket sales this weekend, setting a record for an August film opening. -- PHOTO: WALT DISNEY PICTURES

LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) – Guardians Of The Galaxy, Walt Disney Co’s offbeat space adventure featuring extraterrestrial misfits and a talking raccoon, made US$94 million (S$117 million) in ticket sales this weekend, setting a record for an August film opening.

The film’s strong beginning, however, is not likely to jumpstart a lacklustre summer box office season.

The 3D movie, which stars lesser-known characters in Disney’s Marvel comic book universe, added US$66.4 million from international markets, for a global debut of US$160.4 million, Disney said on Sunday.

Guardians outgunned last weekend’s leader, the science-fiction thriller Lucy that collected another US$18.3 million in sales at domestic theatres, according to estimates from Rentrak.